October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1566
Does the FSIA require foreign states to face the same liability as private citizens?
The dispute centers on whether foreign states must meet the same legal liability standards as private individuals.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Hansford argued Congress created a clear liability standard for foreign states.
She stated foreign states must be liable like private individuals under like circumstances.
Mr. Boies responded to questions about the applicability of Spanish law.
He acknowledged the potential loss if courts applied Spanish law identically to private persons.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. It asks if foreign states face identical liability rules as private parties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
What each side wants
Cassirer wants the Court to apply private citizen liability standards to the foreign state.
Thyssen-Bornemisza wants the Court to reject the private citizen analogy for foreign states.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
What each side says
Cassirer argues Congress directed foreign states to be liable like private individuals under like circumstances.
Thyssen-Bornemisza argues the private citizen analogy fails for unique sovereign actions like managing an army.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the parties hold different positions on the issue.
Justice Alito asked why the advocate downplayed the Rules of Decision Act argument.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-29
Why it matters
The outcome defines the legal standard for holding foreign states liable in U.S. courts. It clarifies the scope of sovereign immunity protections. It impacts how victims seek redress against foreign governments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-29
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.